A/N: A couple weeks after last chapter. Here is some warnings ... there will be some challenging chapters coming up - so, fair warning for the angst (come on, it's my fic, you know I can't stay too far away from it). The 6-weeks and time thereafter will be challenging for the ladies to navigate a relationship. We'll see some time jumps ... but I can promise 1 chapter during the 6-weeks when Alex is gone (the next chapter) that will be plenty sexy for all you all that enjoy that :-)

Timeline: few days after last chapter, so still summer-ish between S3 & S4.

Word Count: ~1,400 Rating: PG-13


ELLIOT

"How long Cabot going to be gone?"

Elliot had slowly begun to warm back up to Olivia over the past couple of weeks. Alex was supposed to leave early the next morning. She was a topic Elliot and Olivia had barely spoke of aside from ADA-related matters.

"Six weeks," Olivia said. She was dreading it.

Elliot pursed his lips together, thinking of how to respond and opting to wait for the question he really wanted to ask. "Who are we going get to replace her during that time?"

Olivia shrugged. "I think a rotating ADA. Whoever draws the short straw, I suppose."

"You have time for a beer or are going to see Alex tonight?" he asked. It was the closed he'd come to acknowledging whatever kind of relationship it was they had.

"She has to work late and finish some things up," Olivia said. "I do plan to see her before she leaves, but I have time, I guess."

Elliot nodded. "Ok. I'll just call and let Kathy know."

Kathy knew all about what happened with Elliot and Olivia. She didn't understand just why he was so upset, but she knew enough to know, without him saying it, his feelings had been hurt. She had encouraged him to move past it and work on accepting whatever Olivia decided.

#

Olivia and Elliot headed down to a nearby pub, grabbing a booth away from the crowd and a couple of beers and burgers – something they hadn't done in what seemed like forever.

"So … Alex," Elliot said, not really asking a question.

"What about her? You know what I do – she's going to a 6-week training," Olivia said.

"That's not what I mean," Elliot said. "I mean, you and Alex – what's going on?"

Olivia looked down, a little surprised Elliot was asking about her personal relationship with Alex, but at least glad they were talking.

"You mean, are we together?" she asked. Elliot nodded, sipping his beer and taking a bite of his burger. "We are going to try. I mean, the timing couldn't be worse, but we'll see how it goes."

"Yeah, her being gone for 6 weeks isn't exactly helpful," Elliot said. "You going to disclose?"

"El …"

"I'm not judging," Elliot said. "I just want to know where that leaves SVU."

"We want to test the waters first … officially," Olivia said. "And there may be a fed job opening up for her."

Elliot nodded. "Well, I'd hate to lose Cabot, but if it makes you happy…"

"It's a good job; a good career move for her," Olivia said. She didn't want to feel completely responsible for Alex giving up SVU. "But … it's probably a year out."

"Oh," Elliot said. "Well, you'll figure it out, Liv. You always do."

"You think so?" Olivia said.

"If this is the right move, right now, then you'll know," Elliot said.

"Are we good?" Olivia said. "I should have told you."

"You should have, but … I understand why you'd want to keep it under wraps," Elliot said. "I overreacted … and I'm sorry, too."

Olivia nodded. "It wasn't about you," she said. "I just … wanted to know first. I … well, it's different with you."

Elliot nodded. "You know I just want what is best for you, Liv," he said. "Both personally and professionally."

They both knew what the other was trying to say, even if neither of them would ever say it or even acknowledge it. They were different. Was he jealous? Maybe. But it also didn't mean he wanted to be with Olivia. It just meant he was protective of her … and wanted the best for her.

They both just nodded, neither saying what they both understood.

"So, what's the plan?" Elliot asked.

"Well, we get through the next 6 weeks," she said. "Then when she's back, we see if we can actually pull off an actual relationship without it interfering with work – at least until she can move to the U.S. attorney's office."

"That will … be challenging," he said. "At least for the two of you."

"What?"

"Not letting it affect your work," he said. "I don't mean that as a bad thing, I just mean the two of you are so passionate and so damn stubborn. You're really going to have to work at this, Liv. And more than you normally work at relationships."

Olivia took a deep breath. She wasn't offended. She knew he was right. Relationships wasn't exactly on the list of things Olivia Benson was good at.

"I'm not saying you and Alex can't do it," he said. "I can see how much you all clearly … care … about each other." He refrained from using the word 'love,' even if he thought it may be true. "But the truth is, all relationships are hard. Even the ones without external challenges."

"I know," Olivia said. "And I'm not in a rush to make some serious commitment – neither of us are. But for now, we're going to see if this even works for us. Actually, try."

"Well, I hope it works for you," Elliot said. He lifts his beer and offered a toast to Olivia.

"To love?" he asked. Olivia grimaced at the word. She wasn't ready for that yet. "Ok, to finding someone you want to 'try' with."

Olivia nodded and lifted her glass. "To trying."

#

"I'm so glad you're here," Alex said, opening the door to Olivia and greeting her with a kiss. "I'm sorry I was so late. I was afraid you would think it was too late and be in bed."

"No, I actually went and had dinner and drinks with Elliot," Olivia said.

"Oh? How did that go?" Alex asked carefully. She was innately aware of how much being on the outs with Elliot had been affecting Olivia.

"It went … well," Olivia said. "We're making progress. And, he even asked about us."

"Oh? What did you tell him?"

"I told him what our plan was," Olivia said. "And he seemed happy."

"Really?" Alex asked suspiciously. She also thought Elliot was a little jealous. She was another person who didn't quite understand Olivia and Elliot's relationship, but she figured she didn't need to.

"Yeah. I think he just wants us to proceed carefully," Olivia said.

"You mean he doesn't want me to hurt you," Alex said.

Olivia shook her head. "No, it wasn't that. He just acknowledged the challenges we'll be facing. He doesn't want to see either of us get hurt."

Alex reached out for Olivia's hard, motioning toward the bedroom. "I don't want that either," she said. "And I think, or at least hope, that over the next few months, our future will reveal itself to us."

#

They laid in bed after making love, cuddled up and reveling in their final few hours together. Of course, they would be able to see each other over the 6-week period, but not much. With Alex being in Albany, NY and Olivia's schedule, like everything else, it would be a challenge.

"So, I realized, even though we decided to try this relationship, we didn't exactly talk about what that meant," Olivia said. They had kind of just functioned over the past two weeks in a state of joy and making sure to enjoy what time they had before Alex left. They hadn't really talked about what exactly "trying" meant.

"I guess it means we're dating," Alex said. "Hopefully, exclusively?"

Olivia nodded. "There's no one else I'm seeing … or want to see, so yes, I'm on the same page," she said.

"Were you asking because you're worried about Albany?" Alex smirked.

"Not worried … just want to know what to expect," Olivia said.

"You're adorable," Alex said. Olivia shook her head and smiled. "Hey, just promise me you'll stay out of any laundromats that isn't in your apartment building."

Olivia laughed. "Deal," she said. "Now, how many hours do we have?"

"Um, don't you have to work in the morning?" Alex said.

"I can sleep when you're gone," Olivia said. "Trust me, I'll make it worth it."


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